For twelve agonizing days, a young black bear wandered the wilderness with her world reduced to the suffocating confines of a plastic jar. The two-year-old female, weighing just 70 pounds, had somehow wedged her head completely inside the container during what was likely a search for food. What began as curiosity turned into a fight for survival.
Unable to eat and barely able to drink, the determined bear covered miles of rugged terrain. Wildlife officials scrambled to track her through scattered sightings, setting humane traps along her unpredictable path. Each day without capture increased concerns for her survival as she grew weaker from hunger and thirst.
The breakthrough came when a vacationing family spotted the exhausted animal near their cabin. “She moved like a ghost bear,” recalled one family member, “that jar bobbing with each step.” They maintained a safe distance while guiding rescuers to the location. Wildlife experts administered a sedative, then carefully cut away the plastic prison that had tormented her for nearly two weeks.
Miraculously, aside from severe dehydration and weight loss, the bear suffered no permanent injuries. “Her will to survive was extraordinary,” noted one rescuer. After receiving fluids and monitoring, she was released back into the wild – this time with a healthy fear of human trash.
